Florida’s Illegal Gambling Crackdown Gets New Weapon With Public Nuisance Law

Law enforcement officials say their backs are against the wall when it comes to cracking down on illegal gambling due to the limited penalties available for offenders under current state law. However, a newly enacted statute gives authorities a powerful new tool in their fight.

Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier and the Florida Gaming Control Commission (FGCC) say illegal slot machines continue to proliferate the Sunshine State at epidemic levels. The state officials say the illegal gambling dens, often billed as arcades and amusement centers in retail strip malls, prey on seniors, have no consumer or regulatory safeguards, and offer dismal payout rates compared to regulated slot machines.

While Uthmeier and the FGCC continue to crack down on such illicit gambling operations, they say state law typically only provides for misdemeanor repercussions. That doesn’t do enough to sway offenders from returning to their illegal schemes.

A new law, however, could help curb the illegal gambling problem.

Property Owners Must Do Due Diligence

Florida Senate Bill 168 was signed in June by Gov. Ron DeSantis (R). While state lawmakers folded on legislation that would have elevated criminal penalties for keeping a gambling house to felonies, the Florida Legislature did amend the state’s public nuisance law to become relevant to illegal gambling.

Under SB168, which became effective July 1, 2026, a commercial real estate property deemed to be housing illegal gambling can be declared a public nuisance. The change to the state public nuisance law allows counties and cities to pursue fines and penalties against illegal gambling businesses, which could lead to liens.

Effective immediately, a county can order an illegal gambling business to close on claims that it’s a public nuisance. If the business does not comply, the county can begin issuing fines of $250 per day, and $500 per day after one year. If the business doesn’t pay the fines within three months, the county can put a lien on the property and begin foreclosure proceedings.

Essentially, SB168 expands landlords’ legal responsibility to ensure that illegal activities are not occurring within their commercial property, adding unregulated gambling to other illicit activities, like the distribution of narcotics and prostitution.

The public nuisance law does not apply to landlords renting non-commercial space like housing.

Uthmeier says law enforcement raids in 2026 have taken more than 3,100 unregulated gambling machines out of the public. More than $1.7 million in cash proceeds have also been seized, and 81 people have been arrested.

Legal Gambling in Florida

The Seminole Tribe maintains a near-monopoly on casino gambling in Florida. Outside of Miami-Dade and Broward counties, slot machines are barred anywhere other than inside the tribe’s six Hard Rock and Seminole casinos.

The Seminoles also have the exclusive rights to online sports betting in Florida through the Hard Rock Bet app.